Acts 16:25-30: a reflection

25But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were loosened. 27The jailer, being roused out of sleep and seeing the prison doors open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, “Don’t harm yourself, for we are all here!” 29He called for lights, sprang in, fell down trembling before Paul and Silas, 30brought them out, and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

Beaten and thrown into the inner prison, their feet fastened in stocks, Paul and Silas did something remarkable at midnight: they prayed and sang hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. In the worst of circumstances, unjustly imprisoned, in pain and darkness, they did not curse their lot or sink into despair; they praised God, sang to him, prayed. And their joy and praise in adversity did not go unnoticed; the prisoners were listening. Their faith in suffering, their joy in chains, became a witness that others heard. When we praise God in adversity, when our joy holds even in suffering, it becomes a witness that others hear, more eloquent than words spoken in ease. The prisoners heard Paul and Silas singing in the dark, and it testified to a faith that could sing in chains. Joy and praise in adversity are a witness others hear.

Notice what Paul and Silas did in their suffering, and who was watching: they prayed and sang, and the prisoners were listening. They were in the worst of circumstances, beaten, imprisoned unjustly, in pain; yet they praised God and sang hymns at midnight. And this praise in adversity was not private; the other prisoners heard it. Their joy in suffering, their faith in chains, became a witness. This shows how our response to adversity can testify to others: when we praise God in the midst of suffering, when our joy holds even in hard circumstances, others notice, and it witnesses to a faith and a God worth having. The prisoners heard singing in the dark, and it spoke of something real. Our joy and praise in adversity often testify more powerfully than our words in ease; others see that our faith holds even in suffering, and it draws them. To praise God in adversity is not only to strengthen ourselves but to witness to others who are watching and listening. Joy in suffering preaches.

That is worth taking to heart, for our joy and praise in adversity can become a witness that others hear. When we suffer, we can curse our lot or sink into despair; but Paul and Silas praised God and sang hymns in prison at midnight, and the prisoners were listening. Our joy in suffering, our faith in chains, becomes a witness others hear, testifying to a God worth having even in adversity. When you suffer, remember that others may be watching and listening, and that your joy and praise in adversity can witness to them. Let your joy and praise hold even in adversity, remembering that it can become a witness others hear, as Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns to God in prison at midnight and the prisoners were listening to them; for our response to suffering can testify more powerfully than words spoken in ease, and when we praise God in the midst of adversity, when our joy holds even in chains, others notice and it witnesses to a faith and a God worth having, so that joy in suffering preaches to those who are watching and listening.

Lord, beaten and thrown into the inner prison, their feet fastened in stocks, Paul and Silas did something remarkable at midnight: they prayed and sang hymns to you, and the other prisoners were listening to them. In the worst of circumstances, unjustly imprisoned, in pain and darkness, they did not curse their lot or sink into despair; they praised you, sang to you, prayed. And their joy and praise in adversity did not go unnoticed; the prisoners were listening. Their faith in suffering, their joy in chains, became a witness that others heard. Show me what Paul and Silas did in their suffering, and who was watching: they prayed and sang, and the prisoners were listening. They were in the worst of circumstances; yet they praised you and sang hymns at midnight. And this praise in adversity was not private; the other prisoners heard it. Their joy in suffering became a witness. This shows how my response to adversity can testify to others: when I praise you in the midst of suffering, when my joy holds even in hard circumstances, others notice, and it witnesses to a God worth having. My joy and praise in adversity often testify more powerfully than my words in ease. Take that to my heart, for my joy and praise in adversity can become a witness that others hear. When I suffer, I can curse my lot or sink into despair; but Paul and Silas praised you and sang hymns in prison, and the prisoners were listening. When I suffer, help me remember that others may be watching and listening, and that my joy and praise in adversity can witness to them, Lord. Let my joy and praise hold even in adversity, as Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns to you in prison at midnight and the prisoners were listening, that it may become a witness others hear.